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When Night Falls: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems
A fairytale ball with a not-so-happy ending.
A company that secretly experiments on the minds of the mentally ill.
The Angel of Death with a deathwish of her own.
Monsters who can kill with just one look into their eyes.
These are just some of the stories When Night Falls has to offer.
Fast-paced, thrilling, and filled to the brim with darkness and characters driven by the voices in their head, this collection focuses on the darker side of life.
**Trigger Warning: Not for the faint of heart. This collection contains stories that deal with difficult subject matter such as murder and suicide.**
A company that secretly experiments on the minds of the mentally ill.
The Angel of Death with a deathwish of her own.
Monsters who can kill with just one look into their eyes.
These are just some of the stories When Night Falls has to offer.
Fast-paced, thrilling, and filled to the brim with darkness and characters driven by the voices in their head, this collection focuses on the darker side of life.
**Trigger Warning: Not for the faint of heart. This collection contains stories that deal with difficult subject matter such as murder and suicide.**
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2018
19 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Kayla Krantz
45 books739 followersKayla Krantz is an international bestselling author of dark fantasy, psychological horror, and supernatural thrillers. She is fascinated by the dark and macabre. Stephen King is her all-time inspiration, mixed in with some faint remnants of the works of Edgar Allen Poe. When she began writing, she started in horror, but somehow drifted into thriller and fantasy. She loves the 1988 movie, “Heathers.” Kayla was born and raised in Michigan, but traveled across the country to where she currently resides, in Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 30, 2019
I just finished reading “When Night Falls: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems” by Kayla Krantz and I have got to say that I was struck by the author’s ability to thrust me right into the middle of what can only be described as chilling snippets of waking nightmares or lucid dreams. Angels, demons, ghouls and psychotic episodes filled each tiny short story with spine-tingling edge-of-your seat anticipation. Enough elements of human tragedy were woven throughout to evoke emotions of unrequited love and unending pain as well. These were beautifully written short stories but many of them could easily be the basis for complete novels of the Stephen King variety. The poetry was thought-provoking and in some cases, heart-rending. I highly recommend this collection for anyone who is up for a good shivery scare.
March 3, 2019
Psychologically disturbing, emotionally upsetting, and spine-tingling, Krantz takes you through a myriad of emotions with her collection of short stories and poems. She brilliantly pulls you in and doesn't let you go as she moves from story to poem, and back again.
You'll find yourself looking in around you to make sure you're really alone, and jumping at every random noise as you read these tales. They encompass themes of love, revenge, family dysfunction, spirituality, dreaming, bullying, the list goes on. There is something for everyone on these pages.
I must confess there were a few of these stories that I thought sounded like incredible introductions for what could be a longer work, and I was sorely disappointed when they ended because I was looking for more. However, I'm greedy.
This collection is well thought out and executed, brava to Ms. Krantz.
Would I recommend it? YES. If you''re a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft or Stephen King that would be a double, YES.
You'll find yourself looking in around you to make sure you're really alone, and jumping at every random noise as you read these tales. They encompass themes of love, revenge, family dysfunction, spirituality, dreaming, bullying, the list goes on. There is something for everyone on these pages.
I must confess there were a few of these stories that I thought sounded like incredible introductions for what could be a longer work, and I was sorely disappointed when they ended because I was looking for more. However, I'm greedy.
This collection is well thought out and executed, brava to Ms. Krantz.
Would I recommend it? YES. If you''re a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft or Stephen King that would be a double, YES.
March 21, 2019
Excellent collection of short stories, short poems, and very, very short stories--here called drabbles.
The author's vision is dark, sometimes gritty and gruesome as appropriate for horror, at other times bleak and sinister but with a twist of ironic justice or redemption. The writing is intriguing and evocative, and the author manages to arouse intense sympathy for the characters, along with the expected pity and fear.
Highly recommended.
The author's vision is dark, sometimes gritty and gruesome as appropriate for horror, at other times bleak and sinister but with a twist of ironic justice or redemption. The writing is intriguing and evocative, and the author manages to arouse intense sympathy for the characters, along with the expected pity and fear.
Highly recommended.
July 7, 2018
I didn’t finish this book, I got about 40% through but was too frustrated to continue. I didn’t mind the dark stories and all the terrible things they spoke about. The thing that frustrated me was that most of the stories I did read ended so abruptly, not really giving enough for background or a semblance of a plot. Or suddenly you were in this climatic scene and it ends with someone’s death and then that’s it. I didn’t expect resolution for these characters but I think there would have been more impact if there were some added scenes here and there. Short stories are supposed to be short, but I couldn’t grasp meanings behind many of the stories. Then there were small comments at the end of each story which almost explained it or just added this existential thought that seemed out of place. Other people might enjoy this, but I expect a short story to explain itself on its own, not need an extra few comments.
Also, most of the characters are the same from story to story, which was also frustrating because even though it’s supposed to be a new story, it felt almost the same. I’ve read other short stories and the characters are often developed even if it is quick, and these I just didn’t feel like any of the characters were developed.
Another thing that frustrated me is some of these characters are dealing with grief or traumatic situations and suddenly they are going on a soliloquy with all these deep thoughts that seem very out of place. For example, one girl is at her mothers funeral and thinks this:
Profound, yes, but the story is disjointed and this feels so random and out of place. The author adds many other profound statements throughout that are great, but again, I felt they were out of place and thus took away from the meaning behind it all.
Maybe this just didn’t speak to me and it will speak to others, but I felt it could have used some more editing.
**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.**
Also, most of the characters are the same from story to story, which was also frustrating because even though it’s supposed to be a new story, it felt almost the same. I’ve read other short stories and the characters are often developed even if it is quick, and these I just didn’t feel like any of the characters were developed.
Another thing that frustrated me is some of these characters are dealing with grief or traumatic situations and suddenly they are going on a soliloquy with all these deep thoughts that seem very out of place. For example, one girl is at her mothers funeral and thinks this:
This same day that’s brought me such darkness might be the best day of someone else’s life. Even stranger is the thought that, for many people, this day won’t mean anything at all.”
Profound, yes, but the story is disjointed and this feels so random and out of place. The author adds many other profound statements throughout that are great, but again, I felt they were out of place and thus took away from the meaning behind it all.
Maybe this just didn’t speak to me and it will speak to others, but I felt it could have used some more editing.
**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.**
January 30, 2018
When Night Falls is a collection of psychological thrillers and poems that deal with emotional battles, facing the darkness within, and life or death situations. Most are under ten minutes and full of action. Some are slower and focus on the philosophical aspect—contemplating the tendencies of human nature, life and death, and the what-ifs we all consider from time to time. However, none of these stories lack suspense. Some of the endings were rather abrupt and I wished the author had gone a bit farther, but many leave you with something to contemplate, speaking to you on an emotional and even moral level. I feel like the author's biggest strength is conveying emotion so well that you can feel the character's anguish as her internal struggles become your own. I highly recommend this collection for a quick and thought-provoking read before bedtime.
November 18, 2018
AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE!!!
Oh man, this is one deep thinking and thrilling collection that will rock you to your core. You have a plethora of poems and lots of action packed, hard hitting, fast paced, gut wretching, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page turning thrills and a spine tingling storylines and strong plots that have you frozen to your seat. Twists and turns, unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises around every corner make for one nailbiting experience. All the drama, fear, deceit, danger and suspense steadily increase as tension spirals in this heart stopping, twisted, complex, mind blowing and gripping terror that holds your undivided attention until the last word. Kayla did one incredible job bringing this read to life flawlessly. Fantastic job Kayla, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Oh man, this is one deep thinking and thrilling collection that will rock you to your core. You have a plethora of poems and lots of action packed, hard hitting, fast paced, gut wretching, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page turning thrills and a spine tingling storylines and strong plots that have you frozen to your seat. Twists and turns, unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises around every corner make for one nailbiting experience. All the drama, fear, deceit, danger and suspense steadily increase as tension spirals in this heart stopping, twisted, complex, mind blowing and gripping terror that holds your undivided attention until the last word. Kayla did one incredible job bringing this read to life flawlessly. Fantastic job Kayla, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
July 29, 2019
Wow, what a collection of short stories and poems! If dark reading is your thing, this is going to be right up your street. Some of it is pretty gruesome, but I have to commend the author on being able to draw the reader into the story really quickly! I honestly 'forgot' at times that these were just short stories, so I'd turn the page to find the end and be surprised each time. I think most of these short stories could be turned into full length novels. They are interesting and captivating. I particularly loved the poetry between chapters and found the short lines to be sometimes haunting, sometimes beautiful and sometimes a blend of both. As it tended to be quite dark at times, I did find I could read two or three stories then switched to something else for a while, before coming back, but the important point to note is that I kept coming back!
April 11, 2021
If I could describe this book in one word it would be: dark.
Not dark in the gory sense, but dark in the physiological sense. Each story grabs you into the plot right away. I'm blown away by Krantz's prose and the way she writes. Even the stories I didn't like as much I found myself having to read the whole short story because the writing was just so good. These stories can be quite dense for short stories and take you on quite the rollercoaster ride, so for me, it was easier to read in chunks instead of all in one day. With that said the POV is so deep and has you in a trance and some of the stories stop so abruptly it's a bit startling, but it just made me want to read the next story. I plan on reading more of Krantz, this time a full novel to get a more complete feel of her writing.
Not dark in the gory sense, but dark in the physiological sense. Each story grabs you into the plot right away. I'm blown away by Krantz's prose and the way she writes. Even the stories I didn't like as much I found myself having to read the whole short story because the writing was just so good. These stories can be quite dense for short stories and take you on quite the rollercoaster ride, so for me, it was easier to read in chunks instead of all in one day. With that said the POV is so deep and has you in a trance and some of the stories stop so abruptly it's a bit startling, but it just made me want to read the next story. I plan on reading more of Krantz, this time a full novel to get a more complete feel of her writing.
August 13, 2024
This one was a rough read for me and I considered DNFing the collection multiple times but stuck it out because sometimes I end up being pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately...this collection had a handful or 3 star stories that were just ok for me and a lot of 2 star stories that I actually felt like were a waste of time. I didn't bother rating the various drabbles individually...on the whole I'd say those were 3 stars but I also wondered why I was wasting my time reading them because none of them stood out as anything special or memorable. I would say this is a case of the authors writing style just not being for me.
That said...while there were no favorites for me in the collection...I think the stories that worked the best for me were The Angel of Death and Dreamcatcher. I thought those two had potential even if they didn't quite get there for me.
That said...while there were no favorites for me in the collection...I think the stories that worked the best for me were The Angel of Death and Dreamcatcher. I thought those two had potential even if they didn't quite get there for me.
May 20, 2019
A collection of dark tales and poems that showcase the writer's ability.
The subject matter of each story is dark and reflects the character's desperation and pain in a clear and atmospheric way. Although short pieces, each has its own distinct personality and gives insight into the central character's emotions, creating empathy and interest in the reader.
The writing is concise and economical making the reading easy in contrast to the challenging content including suicide, death and its aftermath.
I found The Stalker the most shocking tale and my favourite character was the angel of death in the story with the same name.
A challenging if often disturbing read.
The subject matter of each story is dark and reflects the character's desperation and pain in a clear and atmospheric way. Although short pieces, each has its own distinct personality and gives insight into the central character's emotions, creating empathy and interest in the reader.
The writing is concise and economical making the reading easy in contrast to the challenging content including suicide, death and its aftermath.
I found The Stalker the most shocking tale and my favourite character was the angel of death in the story with the same name.
A challenging if often disturbing read.
May 3, 2019
Krantz writes about dark things and happens to touch on almost all of my fears in these stories. Mortality, monsters, angels of death, psych wards, and so much more.
These short stories kept me up at night.
They aren’t long, but they pack a visual punch that my mind replayed over and over again. The little poems in between were very complimentary to the stories. I found the dribbles at the end really fun to read.
If you like being scared, grab your flashlight and wine while you enjoy this book!
These short stories kept me up at night.
They aren’t long, but they pack a visual punch that my mind replayed over and over again. The little poems in between were very complimentary to the stories. I found the dribbles at the end really fun to read.
If you like being scared, grab your flashlight and wine while you enjoy this book!
August 17, 2019
A thrilling, wicked collection of short horror stories and poems, When Night Falls will suck readers right away and wouldn’t let them go until the book is finished. There is beauty, tragedy, horror, and depth in the collection. The narrative is briskly paced with plenty of shocking twists and will keep readers at the edge of their seats. The short snippets of poetry at the end of each story add to the intrigue of the book. The stories are on the darker side and will appeal to lovers of dark fiction. A beautifully dark collection!
September 3, 2018
The author plumbed the depths of despair, pain, and horror for quite a wide range of stories in this collection that will leave you winded and wounded. The use of strong imagery throughout each story helps bring them to life, some even having a sort of twisted poetic feel to them. There were many (and I do mean MANY) stories to choose from but my two favorites were the longer story Fear and the poetic little Unknown. But all the stories were beautifully dark.
February 3, 2018
I received an ARC for an honest review.
All in all I enjoyed the stories and poems contained within "When Night Falls" but like another reviewer said, some ended too abruptly... I guess always leave your audience wanting more. Ms. Krantz is a talented writer and I would read more of her writing. Psychologically & Emotionally haunting.
All in all I enjoyed the stories and poems contained within "When Night Falls" but like another reviewer said, some ended too abruptly... I guess always leave your audience wanting more. Ms. Krantz is a talented writer and I would read more of her writing. Psychologically & Emotionally haunting.
April 17, 2019
I truly enjoyed these stories, poetry and snippets. Kayla mentions Stephen King as her inspiration in her "About the Author" section at the end of this book. I can see that coming out in these stories and so forth. Great inspiration, if I may say.
This was well written. I'm looking forward of more from this author.
This was well written. I'm looking forward of more from this author.
September 12, 2019
I loved it, twisted poetry is the best, the narrator was pretty good all in all this was excellent, I received this aduio from a Facebook group and voluntarily wrote this review all the above is my opinion
November 12, 2018
Something for everyone in this collection: short stories, poetry and drabbles. Some of the tales end rather abruptly, but as a whole I enjoyed the writing; solid and creative.
December 7, 2018
This is a wonderful collection of eerie stories and poems. You will read straight through this one. Each spine tingling episode keeps you turning the pages!
Kindle Unlimited edition
Kindle Unlimited edition
March 25, 2024
Collection of short stories ranging from disturbing to creepy.
August 5, 2018
A thoughtful collection of thriller based short stories and poems, 'When Night Falls’ makes the reader believe that there is a beautiful dawn after every harsh dusk. Kyla Krantz inclines towards having an understanding that life cannot move forward without problems but subtly also explains how one has to deal with them to lead to the solution.
Character personification has been brought out very well throughout the book making visualisation of each of the stories easy for the readers. Various relatable examples have been brought out smoothly to explain the life’s truths including Fear and Death.
The difference between the reality of the situation and the way it is perceived otherwise is brought out quite satisfyingly. Short excerpts or what we simply relate to as quotes, at the end of every short story help the readers to associate the fiction to reality.
Character personification has been brought out very well throughout the book making visualisation of each of the stories easy for the readers. Various relatable examples have been brought out smoothly to explain the life’s truths including Fear and Death.
The difference between the reality of the situation and the way it is perceived otherwise is brought out quite satisfyingly. Short excerpts or what we simply relate to as quotes, at the end of every short story help the readers to associate the fiction to reality.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews